Safaripolice
New member
Hey friends. I’m a newer reloader and started with all Hornady equipment and accessories. From the classic press to the dies, tumbler, case trimmer, and everything in between, I started with all Hornady. Heck even my backup micrometer is now a Hornady lol. I like the brand and haven’t had issues with their ammo or other accessories so I went with them vs lee, Lyman or rcbs. Also the few issues I had when getting started, their customer support was great even though I broke a few pieces myself like pins and spindles they were great and sent me everything right away and free of charge.
Here is my issue;
Reloading for one of my favorite cartridges and my go to deer round the 25-06 and today at the range testing my first batch of loads I’m having issues with the bolt closing tightly. Not where gorilla strength is needed but also way to difficult to effectively have a smooth and quick follow up shot. Case Ejection takes place no problem and the bolt takes about the same strength to open or possibly less. To be honest I think it’s for sure easier to open then close after firing.
Want to add that this is a non issue with factory ammo from Remington, to federal and to Prvi which I shoot all the time for the cases and low cost and relative decent accuracy.
Rifle is a savage 110 and Here is the brass info. It was once shot Prvi Partizan 25-06 brass shot out my rifle so it’s only seen my chamber before and after.
Recipe was Hornady 117 grain SST bullets with 50 grains of IMR4350 and Remington LR Primers.
It appears that tonight after micrometers and calibers and measuring for hours and comparing different ammo and driving myself crazy I finally decided to post my question here since this sight has been so helpful in the past and I’ve made some friends here that have led to phone calls and hours of conversations. Amazing what the internet does and how it brings us together.
I am using Hornadys full length die set and using lube and all my measurements are totally within tolerance of the 25-06 cartridge. I was thinking maybe case was to long and pulled some apart even though they were all checked before making the ammo and they were fine. Most were 2.090-2.094ish. All within spec. Then I went and started trimming some to 2.084 for the minimum trim length, and made dummy rounds with fully seated bullets and what ya know same thing tight closing of the bolt. I then took a new federal cartridge I believe also 117 grain white tail classic ammo and the bolt closed perfectly smooth and easily.
I measured the federal ammo to my handloads and compared to the book and everything is literally the same or at the very least within spec. I started thinking maybe I got a bad batch of Hornady bullets. But they all mic up at .257. To reassure myself that I wasn’t going crazy I pulled the soft point from the federal cartridge and inserted the sst bullet to required depth and wouldn’t you believe it, the gun Still worked perfect and the bolt closed perfect. Clearly the factory ammo is working fine no matter what bullet and I can’t tell where my measurements are off. I’ve been at my reloading area in my basement for 4-5 hours now measuring and re measuring and pulling bullets and swapping cases and I still have not solved the issues. I Read all my manuals on the dies and jumped on YouTube to some reloaders tutorials whom I have all the respect for and It Appears I’m doing everything right.
I’ve tried to close some freshly resized cases, no charge or bullet, that I just made, again this Is all once shot Prvi ammo and it still is hard to close with no bullet even installed. All my installed depths were within spec on the bullets I was using and I even tried using less and more depth to no avail. I’m literally running out of options and dumbfounded. It’s probably something stupid and I hope someone can address it for me but please understand that I am Mechanically inclined and I can use a mic and measure. Heck I even used two different mics. I know my technique and my measuring abilities are on par with average or at least proficient.
It does appear that once the ammo is shot it gets to be a little easier to close if not perfectly normal to close, (almost like being case formed/shot formed, sorry terminology is off I’m still learning)I can’t remember as I’ve done so many different scenarios. This leads me to believe that it’s in my resizing technique or maybe a bad die set which I doubt since all my measurements are within spec and it’s a brand new custom series Hornady set. I know or assume it’s not my bullet seating die or technique as I’ve pulled several bullets on the federal and new Prvi ammo and seated my SST bullets and then tried to cycle them in my gun and it was fine, closed just like the new factory round with factory bullet.
Also this is a newer savage with no issues and at least 200 rounds out of it so far and again no issues with any other ammo in it, only my reloads
If someone knows what I’m doing wrong or think I’m resizing wrong please let me know. Any help at this point is a plus as I’m running out of ideas and driving my self crazy. I’m very anal and stuff like this that I can’t solve bother me to the point that I’m typing this here at 3:00am and plan on going back downstairs and measuring more until my wife screams for me to go to bed.
Again all the measurements on the case after resizing were all within spec. The bottom of the round which is max .470 in the 25-06 mine are never above that and usually around .466-69 same as unfired factory ammo and the throat neck area shows a max of .290 and mine are all .275-.280. Max shoulder area is .441 and mi e are coming in at .438-39.
My factory federal ammo is showing similar numbers but approximately 2-3 thousand less in the head neck and shoulder area. Again my numbers on my handload reformed brass are still within spec and underside per hornady reloading manual and I believe an older lee chart I have hanging so I can’t see that being the issue but again I’m new to this.
Any help is greatly appreciated and I look forward to your advice. I want to add that I’m addicted to reloading and today at the range for my first loads I was shooting at first 50yards 1.5-2” groups sighting her in with my NIKON BDC 3-9x40. After warming up and getting my gunstand straightened out and moving to 100 yards which is where I’ll keep my scope sighted for hunting season I started getting 1-2” groups with my first handloads which I think is very good for me as I’m not a sniper and it’s way more then I will need for 1-300 yard hunting with this laser Caliber. I did have a group that would have been .75” (one ragged hole) but the fifth shot went a bit north and to be honest it was either me or I think I had a couple cases that were loaded to 50.2-50.3 vs 50 grains so who knows. Regardless I’m happy as can be but I want my bolt to cycle and close smoothly so I can get more confidence in reloading and start other calibers like my 30-06 and 375 h&h.
Please note That accuracy was with this tight bolt issue so not sure if that effected anything. I really got into this hobby as a pass time and not for any reason like money saving or competing. But I must say after today I’m addicted beyond words. Actually looking to add new calibers to my collections that I’ve always wanted but were either to expensive or pretty much non existent ammo like the 350 Remington magnum. I’m also addicted now to try and shoot .5” groups. Never had these aspirations but with handloading I must say I’m excited to have goals and trying to find a way to get there. I love the fact there are so many recipes and bullets and powders and formulas. It’s never ending and this is a hobby that I’m in for life.
Thanks to all of you and Godspeed
Here is my issue;
Reloading for one of my favorite cartridges and my go to deer round the 25-06 and today at the range testing my first batch of loads I’m having issues with the bolt closing tightly. Not where gorilla strength is needed but also way to difficult to effectively have a smooth and quick follow up shot. Case Ejection takes place no problem and the bolt takes about the same strength to open or possibly less. To be honest I think it’s for sure easier to open then close after firing.
Want to add that this is a non issue with factory ammo from Remington, to federal and to Prvi which I shoot all the time for the cases and low cost and relative decent accuracy.
Rifle is a savage 110 and Here is the brass info. It was once shot Prvi Partizan 25-06 brass shot out my rifle so it’s only seen my chamber before and after.
Recipe was Hornady 117 grain SST bullets with 50 grains of IMR4350 and Remington LR Primers.
It appears that tonight after micrometers and calibers and measuring for hours and comparing different ammo and driving myself crazy I finally decided to post my question here since this sight has been so helpful in the past and I’ve made some friends here that have led to phone calls and hours of conversations. Amazing what the internet does and how it brings us together.
I am using Hornadys full length die set and using lube and all my measurements are totally within tolerance of the 25-06 cartridge. I was thinking maybe case was to long and pulled some apart even though they were all checked before making the ammo and they were fine. Most were 2.090-2.094ish. All within spec. Then I went and started trimming some to 2.084 for the minimum trim length, and made dummy rounds with fully seated bullets and what ya know same thing tight closing of the bolt. I then took a new federal cartridge I believe also 117 grain white tail classic ammo and the bolt closed perfectly smooth and easily.
I measured the federal ammo to my handloads and compared to the book and everything is literally the same or at the very least within spec. I started thinking maybe I got a bad batch of Hornady bullets. But they all mic up at .257. To reassure myself that I wasn’t going crazy I pulled the soft point from the federal cartridge and inserted the sst bullet to required depth and wouldn’t you believe it, the gun Still worked perfect and the bolt closed perfect. Clearly the factory ammo is working fine no matter what bullet and I can’t tell where my measurements are off. I’ve been at my reloading area in my basement for 4-5 hours now measuring and re measuring and pulling bullets and swapping cases and I still have not solved the issues. I Read all my manuals on the dies and jumped on YouTube to some reloaders tutorials whom I have all the respect for and It Appears I’m doing everything right.
I’ve tried to close some freshly resized cases, no charge or bullet, that I just made, again this Is all once shot Prvi ammo and it still is hard to close with no bullet even installed. All my installed depths were within spec on the bullets I was using and I even tried using less and more depth to no avail. I’m literally running out of options and dumbfounded. It’s probably something stupid and I hope someone can address it for me but please understand that I am Mechanically inclined and I can use a mic and measure. Heck I even used two different mics. I know my technique and my measuring abilities are on par with average or at least proficient.
It does appear that once the ammo is shot it gets to be a little easier to close if not perfectly normal to close, (almost like being case formed/shot formed, sorry terminology is off I’m still learning)I can’t remember as I’ve done so many different scenarios. This leads me to believe that it’s in my resizing technique or maybe a bad die set which I doubt since all my measurements are within spec and it’s a brand new custom series Hornady set. I know or assume it’s not my bullet seating die or technique as I’ve pulled several bullets on the federal and new Prvi ammo and seated my SST bullets and then tried to cycle them in my gun and it was fine, closed just like the new factory round with factory bullet.
Also this is a newer savage with no issues and at least 200 rounds out of it so far and again no issues with any other ammo in it, only my reloads
If someone knows what I’m doing wrong or think I’m resizing wrong please let me know. Any help at this point is a plus as I’m running out of ideas and driving my self crazy. I’m very anal and stuff like this that I can’t solve bother me to the point that I’m typing this here at 3:00am and plan on going back downstairs and measuring more until my wife screams for me to go to bed.
Again all the measurements on the case after resizing were all within spec. The bottom of the round which is max .470 in the 25-06 mine are never above that and usually around .466-69 same as unfired factory ammo and the throat neck area shows a max of .290 and mine are all .275-.280. Max shoulder area is .441 and mi e are coming in at .438-39.
My factory federal ammo is showing similar numbers but approximately 2-3 thousand less in the head neck and shoulder area. Again my numbers on my handload reformed brass are still within spec and underside per hornady reloading manual and I believe an older lee chart I have hanging so I can’t see that being the issue but again I’m new to this.
Any help is greatly appreciated and I look forward to your advice. I want to add that I’m addicted to reloading and today at the range for my first loads I was shooting at first 50yards 1.5-2” groups sighting her in with my NIKON BDC 3-9x40. After warming up and getting my gunstand straightened out and moving to 100 yards which is where I’ll keep my scope sighted for hunting season I started getting 1-2” groups with my first handloads which I think is very good for me as I’m not a sniper and it’s way more then I will need for 1-300 yard hunting with this laser Caliber. I did have a group that would have been .75” (one ragged hole) but the fifth shot went a bit north and to be honest it was either me or I think I had a couple cases that were loaded to 50.2-50.3 vs 50 grains so who knows. Regardless I’m happy as can be but I want my bolt to cycle and close smoothly so I can get more confidence in reloading and start other calibers like my 30-06 and 375 h&h.
Please note That accuracy was with this tight bolt issue so not sure if that effected anything. I really got into this hobby as a pass time and not for any reason like money saving or competing. But I must say after today I’m addicted beyond words. Actually looking to add new calibers to my collections that I’ve always wanted but were either to expensive or pretty much non existent ammo like the 350 Remington magnum. I’m also addicted now to try and shoot .5” groups. Never had these aspirations but with handloading I must say I’m excited to have goals and trying to find a way to get there. I love the fact there are so many recipes and bullets and powders and formulas. It’s never ending and this is a hobby that I’m in for life.
Thanks to all of you and Godspeed